Author: Mitch Clouse

What Ministry Is All About, Part 17

In our message, GOD’S STRENGTH MADE PERFECT (2 Cor. 12:1-13), Paul continues his duel of foolish boasting with the false apostles (2 Cor. 11:16). After citing he was equal to them in their worldly credentials (2 Cor. 11:22), and also superior to them in his extensive suffering for God’s kingdom (which was something they probably had not even thought of! e.g. 2 Cor. 11:23-27), Paul now turned toward “visions and revelations” as well as “signs and wonders” which also set apart a true apostle in the first century from those who were counterfeits (2 Cor.… Continue reading

What Ministry Is All About, Part 16

In our message, STOP SIGNS FOR JESUS (2 Cor. 11:16-33), we continued our focus on the third and final section of the book of Second Corinthians which emphasizes the defense of the Bible. Paul, to defend the Word of God here, calls his opponents- the false apostles- to a duel of foolish boasting (2 Cor. 11:16-18). Because so many Christians in Corinth were trusting in the outward credentials of the unsaved men (2 Cor.… Continue reading

Last Sunday we had Adult & Teen Challenge visit and share testimonials from their ministry before continuing our study in the book of Second Corinthians in a message titled THE BEST COUNTERFEITS (2 Cor. 11:5-15). The Bible shows us here that the enemy of our souls, “Satan… transforms himself into an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14) to attempt to lead God’s people into sin through discounting God’s Word. The Greek word for “transforms” here means to disguise or change one’s outward appearance.… Continue reading

What Ministry Is All About, Part 14

In our message, GODLY JEALOUSY (2 Cor. 10:12-11:4), we continued our focus in the third and final section of the book of Second Corinthians which emphasizes the defense of the Bible. Christians are to “contend earnestly for the faith” with both lost people and also in our own lives by guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Jude 1:3-4; Phil. 4:8; 2 Cor. 10:3-5).

One of the ways we do this as God’s children is to understand that our worth- our value- is NOT based upon “comparing” ourselves with others (2 Cor.… Continue reading

What Ministry Is All About, Part 13

In our message, TAKING THOUGHTS CAPTIVE TO CHRIST (2 Cor. 10:1-11), we entered into the third and final section of the book of Second Corinthians. While chapters 1 through 7 primarily dealt with the ministry of reconciliation (i.e. the gospel of our salvation) and chapters 8 and 9 focused on the grace of giving, chapters 10 to 13 emphasize the defense of the Bible. Christians are called to “contend earnestly for the faith” with both lost people and also in our own lives by guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Jude 1:3-4; Phil.… Continue reading

What Ministry Is All About, Part 12

In our message, GOD’S INDESCRIBABLE GIFT (2 Cor. 8:16-9:1), we resumed our study in the book of Second Corinthians- now focusing on the grace of giving. Two weeks ago, God gave us two examples there on how to give: the Macedonian churches north of Corinth (2 Cor. 8:1-7) and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (2 Cor. 8:8-9). God wants this “grace” of giving to “abound in” our lives (2 Cor.… Continue reading

What Ministry is All About, Part 10

In last Sunday’s message, GOOD PAIN vs. FAKE TEARS (2 Cor. 7:2-16), Paul completed an emphasis on the Gospel that was started in chapter 2. There is no greater message in the Bible than the Gospel (1 Cor. 15:3-4; John 3:16, etc.), as it alone is the way a person is saved and goes to heaven (Gen. 3:15; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 2 Cor. 5:21, etc.). The Gospel is always triumphant and victorious for those who have placed their faith in Jesus (2 Cor.… Continue reading

What Ministry is All About, Part 9

In our message, CLEANSING OURSELVES (2 Cor. 6:11-7:1), Paul continues his discussion of the Gospel, but now focuses on the PLEA- not to the lost- but to Christians (1 Cor. 4:1-2; 2 Cor. 5:6-9; 6:1-2, etc.).

The statement, “Oh Corinthians!” is one of only three times where Paul addresses his audience directly and personally in the middle of a letter (2 Cor. 6:11a -see also Gal. 3:1 and Phil.… Continue reading

What Ministry is all About, Part 8

In our message, THE DOUBLE PLEA (2 Cor. 5:18-6:10), the ministry of the New Covenant is defined in one of the clearest passages in the Bible. Because Christians have been born of God with “all things” becoming new in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17; John 3:7, etc.), the Lord has also “given us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18). We are to declare the message of the Gospel- that God “in Christ [is] reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them” (2 Cor.… Continue reading

What Ministry is All About, Part 7

In our message, THE NEW CREATION (2 Cor. 5:12-17), Paul continued to give thanks to God for making Christians ministers of the New Covenant, and now explained what it means to become a creation of God. Jesus said in John 3:7, “You MUST be born again” to “enter” and even “see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3, 5, 6-8, etc., caps my emphasis). When a person trusts God’s way of salvation (1 Cor.… Continue reading